Legacy

 I've had to attend way too many funerals/memorial services/celebrations of life lately. Rightfully, the central theme of all of them is what that person meant to other people; family, friends, acquaintances. Everyone sharing memories, sharing positive attributes of that person. Of course, we all realize that no one is perfect but everyone focuses on the positive things about the person who has passed. I've never been to a funeral where someone got up and declared what a dirty, rotten scoundrel the individual was. Obviously I'm not suggesting that we should do that but it made me start thinking about what I will leave behind when I'm gone; my legacy.

Legacy is an interesting word. I was somewhat surprised by the variety of definitions which included wills, membership to organizations and outdated computer systems. The only one that really meant what I thought it would was "something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past." 

My curiosity made me wonder what the Bible had to say about legacy. I found nothing. Zip, Zilch, Nada. However, it has a lot to say about heritage. And the main idea of heritage in the Bible is what is stored up for us in Heaven. 

"According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading." 1 Peter1:3-4

Okay, so instead of sitting around here wondering what kind of a legacy I will leave behind, I need to be focusing on the heritage that awaits me. And not surprisingly, if I concentrate on the eternal and not the physical, my legacy will take care of itself. I won't have to work at it. I won't have to worry about whether I am going to be remembered well. My legacy will be obvious because my heritage is guaranteed when I live my life walking in God's will. 

Thank you for the reminder, Lord. 

Whatever We Ask

 Imagine that Johnny Morris handed you a credit card and said to buy whatever you want. Johnny is worth something like $5.7 billion so money is no object. Even if you spent $1 million a day, that's still only a drop in the bucket to his billions. Think of all the things you could do with that kind of money!

Of course, there's a catch. Isn't there always? 

The money you spend must further the success of his business. Okay, that dampens the excitement a bit, right?

Jesus tells us in John 15:7 that we can "...ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!" Sounds great, doesn't it? And He makes this promise over and over again. 

"...so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for..." John 15:16

"...I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request..." John 16:23

"...Ask,...and you will receive..." John 16:24

Over and over again, Jesus says, ask, ask, ask. But just as in our scenario with Johnny Morris, there is a catch. There's more to this asking command. Here's the catch:

"using my name."  "because you use my name."  "so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." "in order to bear much fruit and therefore glorify the Father."  "so that our joy may be complete." (John 15:16, 16:23, 16:24, 14:13, 15:8 respectively) 

This should change the focus of our requests. When I ask, am I asking in the context of how this can further God's kingdom? When I frame my prayers, am I framing them around what will glorify God? When I ask for a specific answer, will that answer add to the success of His kingdom? 

Are my prayers for financial provisions so that I can help more people hear about Him? Are my prayers for healing so God can be glorified? What if I pray for the removal of a struggle but God is using these struggles to grow my faith? When I don't get the answer I want, do I accept that God may have a higher purpose? 

These are questions that should change the focus of our prayers.

The CEO of the Kingdom of God has handed us a credit card with an unlimited limit. He tells us to ask and we will receive. The only catch is that it must advance His interests. What will we do with it?